nurses, soup and cat naps...

Mom and Nurse, Aylse Keys RN, gave us a shout-out that May 6-12 is National Nurses Week and would we like to learn more about the work that nurses do...why of course we would!  Alyse is the Clinical Coordinator for IU Health Saxony Hospital in Fishers and she arrived with her two nursing co-workers to fill us in.

Alyse, Rob and Lori

Both Alyse and Rob specialize in Critical Care and Lori is an Orthopedic specialist (something Mrs. Allspaw and I are very familiar with).

Miss King arranged the schedule and here are some of the 1st graders and Kindergartners.
(I need a wide angle camera)

Alyse asked if we could help decorate the halls of Saxony Hospital with pictures and stories about nurses...heck yes...that's our speciality!  

Audrey's story

Audrey gets allergy shots...I am digging this very glam nurse's laced up boots...whatever happened to sensible white shoes? 

Alaina's picture...love the sign right above the nurses head
"PUMP UP THE FRUIT".
I "think" the nurse has pockets on her uniform top?!?!

All I can say is I am with Grandma on this one...and now I have a mental image I can't get rid of.

Glamourous Ella/not so glamourous nurse
(love, love, love Ella's red hair vamp look)

...and there is nothing so bad that soup and a cat nap can't cure...my motto in life!

Thank you so much nurses of Saxony Hospital for visiting us and thanks to Alyse for thinking of us in helping to honor this amazing profession!

prom 2012...old kids

Well, I did something I haven't done since 1967...I went to prom.  The class of 2012 has always held a special place in my heart, so I decided that if the weather was nice I was going to crash the "parent preview" photo op.  The weather was horrible (rainy and overcast AND cold) so I decided to snuggle up in my warm cozy house but...got an emergency call from Sarah's parents that Mrs. Gillaspy was en route to the ER with possible kidney stones...would I fill in?  So...I loaded my umbrella and headed downtown to save the day...but...I got a flat tire (fortunately though right in front of the venue).

I did capture a picture of Sarah though on the way into the prom...we are giggling (?) about my flat tire...isn't she beautiful?

Loved the back of Sarah's hair as much as the front
(courtesy of Norine Chastain)

Another one of my "old girls" Allie Witek...also a cadet teacher in Mrs. McKee's room. 

Sarah and Natalie Eisele (another one of my "old girls").  Natalie looked so pretty and her hair was a work of art...

...so I captured the back of hers also!

Look at this beautiful and sophisticated Kelsey Blake...this dress was STUNNING and Kelsey wore it like she owned it...oh yeah...she does own it.  It was breathtakingly gorgeous!

I never had Joseph Stevens but he was kind of a universal child of St. Christopher...HA!  Love the "gangsta" look!

Another "universal child" of St. Christopher...Abby Franklin...beloved by all of us cuz she's always so darn cute and happy (another cadet teacher).

Abby and Sarah

Adam Essex (son of Mrs. Essex)...you really had to see his hair in person to appreciate the golden tips at the end of the spikes...who knew Adam had such panache?  (another one of my oldies).

Speaking of panache...so sorry that Harry Massonne is a little blurry in this pic but I think you can still see the swagger he had on...no clue who the girl on the left is but she was determined to be in the photo!

I so badly wanted to get a picture of Casey Moorman (who holds such a special place in my heart) but he came and went while I was outside with Triple A getting my tire changed so I did the next best thing...I got a picture of his nephew Jax (son of John and Maria Moorman...another one of my "old" boys).  Casey went on that evening to be crowned King of Prom along with his girlfriend Sarah Mayse, Queen of Prom).  Molly Connor did both of their Senior Pictures!  Casey was also this year's Homecoming King...Shiela would have been so proud as she was of all three of her boys. 

This picture just made me happy...Cali always has a smile going on.

...and last but not least...Steven Brinkman...too young for the party but having a good time anyway.  Your time will come young Steven!

By the way...Mr. and Mrs. Gillaspy made it to the party and all I had to be responsible for were the fun shots...whew...glad that responsibility was off my shoulders and I could just enjoy...wish I had been able to capture all my old kids but time for the preview ran out.  Prom wore me out!!!!!

18 or older and jelly beans...

Here is Sarah Gillaspy.  She is 18 today.  I know her mom and dad feel like their little baby has grown up.  So do I...she is one of "my" 1st graders.

Sarah used to sit in this chair 12 years ago...some things change...some don't.  Now she is in my room as a cadet teacher from Cardinal Ritter High School and she is beloved by all so of course we had to celebrate today (don't worry...she did not have to share this cake with 25 kids..they got birthday cookies!
Note her new birthday iphone on the desk.

All the kids made her darling cards but I about spit my coffee out across the room when I saw this one!

Do you see why? I think Audrey's parents better hide the credit cards when she turns 18 (if not before!)

Fr. Mike has repeatedly brought up at Mass that he didn't get any Easter bunnies this year...and yesterday he was bemoaning the fact that he didn't get any jelly beans, especially his favorite black licorice ones (really Fr. Mike?)  So...in comes Luke Adams today with a big old bag that indeed had plenty of the black ones...so off to the rectory we go! 

A boy, a man and ...his jelly beans.  Fr. Mike was so happy that he "proclaimed" a no-homework night for Luke.

Have you ever seen a happier kid?

I can only imagine in my wildest dreams what the "other kids" will be bringing in tomorrow!

weebles wobble...part two

George Pontones sent me these three fabulous pictures last night that he had captured...so fitting!

You just never know who is visiting.

I love a praying mantis and where better to land.

I get them in my garden and they seem to stay all summer.

Thanks George!

I really felt yesterday, after I posted my blog, that I hadn't done Jesus and The Last Supper sculpture justice so I took a pic today of him unadorned by children or bugs.  He is magnificent.

He's also affectionately known as "photo op" Jesus. 
                                     

weebles wobble...

It was such a gorgeous day today, so on our way over to church to practice for Monday's Mass, we took a detour and went on an art walk.  St. Christopher Parish has the most beautiful and amazing art scattered around the grounds...we all take great pride in the sculptures...however some of us can be a little playful (and perhaps a bit irreverent) when discussing the pieces...thank goodness I'm not that way!!!

I think this says it all about St. Christopher as a parish and I truly LOVE this next piece because it features children from many different continents...and that is what our school is about specifically.

However, I can't get the "weebles wobble but they don't fall down" jingle out of my mind whenever I am heading over to church.  P.S. I DID NOT come up with that on my own but I will not name names (unless my job is on the line over this little tour).

Wait till you see this creation and how embraced it is by the children of Room 7.

I have never had a class that had children who did not immediately crawl and climb up into the lap of Jesus...

This is such an example of our Catholic Identity and how comfortable these kids are in their faith and love of Jesus
(except for Johnny who is SURE we may be getting in trouble for this).

...and last but not least, another one of my favorite pieces of art...affectionately  called Surfing Jesus by ANOTHER teacher...once again I will gladly give up her name if my job is on the line!

This doesn't even begin to cover the precious art pieces inside the church but am glad I could share some of our little art walk today...we are lucky that Fr. Mike has such an appreciation for art and a good sense of humor...I hope...I pray...

more careers...all teachers

Well we have come to the end of our career stories (yet to come: our advice to kindergartners on how to navigate 1st grade).  The choices are wide, varied and a "hoot" and here are our teachers-to-be section.  I think they've captured "the essence".

With report cards (the bane of my existence)...next year (God willing) it will just take a push of a button.  Look how neat her desk is...what's that about?

Isn't she the cutest?

I don't know what Charlie got caught doing but I kind of like Luke's style here...Charlie looks VERY sorry!

He would make a great teacher...love this kid's humor!

Well,  she's got the coffee drinking and the eagle watching down pat!

soooooo cute

I like her approach...I'm going to add desk-standing to my bag of tricks...I already have head standing down pat!

I have said it before and I will say it again...this class is the best!